City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Augusta, GA (91.9) and Winston, NC (92.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $100,200 in Winston, NC.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,082 in Winston, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,086 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Winston, NC.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Augusta, GA to Winston, NC changes real buying power by −0.2%, purely from prices.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Winston, NC: price level 92.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,152 in Winston | $99,848 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Winston, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,086/yr.
68 Fair offer
Winston, NC → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,086/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Winston, NC | Real change, Augusta → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $56,510 | $56,424 (−10.4%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $124,130 | $123,941 (+3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $78,950 | $78,830 (+2.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $86,120 | $85,989 (−2.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.